On opening night, a team earmarked for the NBA draft lottery staged a surprise party at US Airways Center. The Suns toppled the visiting Trail Blazers 104-91, showing some very promising signs in the process.

They pushed the ball. They played with intensity. A pair of undersized point guards — Eric Bledsoe and Goran Dragic — had no problems co-existing in the same backcourt. And rookie head coach Jeff Hornacek looked perfectly comfortable in his tailored suit, like he was born to lead a basketball team.

Most encouraging was the performance of their athletic new center, Miles Plumlee, whose first name was previously used to describe the enormous distance between the Suns and a championship trophy.

Plumlee used his athleticism, quickness and size to collect 16 points and 10 rebounds in the first half, becoming the first player to record a double-double in his Phoenix debut since Shawn Marion. It was a remarkable development for a guy who had 13 points all of last season, playing just 55 minutes in his rookie season with the Pacers.

Most people expected Bledsoe to have the breakout season in Phoenix, and that will surely be the case. But Plumlee emerged as the biggest surprise of the preseason, and his rapid ascension clearly expedited the trade of Marcin Gortat, one that caused some different problems on Wednesday.

Before he was dealt, Gortat made plans to fly in 25 people from his homeland to celebrate opening night in Phoenix, which was also Polish Heritage Night at US Airways Center.

Gortat told the Washington Post that his guests included soldiers stationed in Afghanistan, the Polish minister of sport, the Polish ambassador and children from his basketball camp. Some were in the process of arriving as Gortat was traded.

Oops. The Suns rectified that situation by offering all the affected fans free tickets when Gortat’s Wizards’ visit Phoenix later in the season.

It could be a very small sacrifice, especially if Plumlee continues to play high-octane basketball.

“They say we’re rebuilding,” Plumlee said. “But it felt great to come out and get a win right off the bat and give (fans) something to be excited about.”

Yet many Suns fans will ask: Is this really a good thing?

Conventional wisdom says it’s a very important year for bad NBA teams to squat in the loss column, refusing to leave without an eviction notice. The incoming class of rookies is expected to feature a handful of game-changing, franchise players. The most notable — Kansas freshman Andrew Wiggins — is rumored to be the next LeBron James.

There are five or six really bad teams in the NBA. The Suns are supposed to be among the group in line for the ultimate consolation prize. One NBA general manager has already waved the white flag, indicating his team will tank in hopes of securing a prized rookie.

No matter what happens, Hornacek will not cross that line.

“I think it’s bad karma if you do that,” he said.

Chances are, the Suns won’t have to try to lose a majority of their games. They are still wafer thin. There isn’t that much talent on the roster. The Trail Blazers are still a bad team, even with last year’s Rookie of the Year (Damian Lillard) and rumors of a re-energized Robin Lopez.

The best shooter on Planet Orange is the head coach. This isn’t a joke. Before the season, the Suns held a team function, staging a half-court shooting contest with their fans. Nobody converted except for Hornacek, who stepped up last, and calmly swished his attempt from half-court.

But from top to bottom, it’s clear that everyone is pulling in the same direction. Chemistry seems to be an asset, not a liability. Bledsoe has already filled up a box score, looking like a guy who wants the ball with the game on the line. As a result, the Suns have already surprised their first opponent.

“We just told the guys: play as hard as you can, play as a team and you’ll win your fair share of games,” Hornacek said.

It might be more than we thought. For better or worse.

Reach Bickley at dan.bickley@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-8253. Follow him at twitter.com/danbickley. Listen to “The Dan Bickley Show With Vince Marotta,” weekdays from noon to 2 p.m. on Arizona Sports 620 (KTAR-AM).

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